Boxing legend Jeff Fenech happily mingling with Keith Thurman on fight eve has added further spice to Brock Jarvis's date with destiny at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.
A month after splitting with Jarvis after training the Sydney slayer for his entire 22-fight professional career, Fenech cut a conspicuous figure chatting with Thurman (30-1, 22KOs) before the weigh-in for the high-stakes super-welterweight stoush.
Arguably Australia's greatest-ever pugilist, Fenech initially warned Jarvis (22-1, 20KOs) not to accept the fight, believing the former unified welterweight world champion was too credentialed for his long-time ex-old charge.
Critics fear that not having Fenech in his corner on Wednesday night could be disastrous for Jarvis, but the 27-year-old continues to shrug off the concerns.
"I've still been doing this for a long time myself, so it's not my first rodeo," Jarvis said on Tuesday.
Australia's only-ever four-division world champ, Fenech this week claimed "Brock's changed" while explaining why the pair no longer work together after enjoying a 10-year union.
Fenech is not the only one worried for Jarvis.
His bullish opponent repeatedly beat his chest while taunting Jarvis with "the greatest, the greatest" claims at Tuesday's pre-fight face-off.
"I'm the greatest fighter you ever shared the ring with," Thurman said.
Jarvis replied: "We'll see tomorrow night, mate."
The two combatants have spent the past week trading sledges, with Thurman deriding Jarvis as merely his "appetiser" before a blockbuster with Tim Tszyu.
No Limit Boxing promoter George Rose on Tuesday confirmed the sport's worst-kept secret that Thurman and Tszyu would square off in coming months in Australia should both win their eliminators.
After Thurman takes on Jarvis, Tszyu will face American Joey Spencer in Newcastle on April 6.
Thurman welcomed the showdown being formalised after the American tore a biceps muscle before a scheduled tussle with Tszyu last March.
"That's really one of the reasons why I was able to be enticed to come over here to in Australia," Thurman said.
"That was the most unfortunate event of not facing Tszyu when the contract was signed, when the build-up was made, when the posters and everybody was looking forward to Las Vegas, T-Mobile Arena, Amazon Prime, pay per view, and pulling out of that.
"But I still think it's a good fight.
"There was a lot of money on the table in Vegas. That money is not going to be there for this fight but there's enough money on the table and there's still enough excitement.
"I get to do back to back. I've got to take care of Brock Jarvis tomorrow night, and then I'll come right back with a quick turnaround with Tszyu."
Thurman's only concern is Tszyu suffering a third straight defeat, after losing to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev in the US last year, and having all plans scuppered.
"Tim Tszyu will have to win his comeback fight, here in Australia," Thurman said.
"So obviously to make the fight happen, I'm actually gunning for him and not our US brother on this one.
"But that's just because I'm looking to step in the ring and give him the loss of his career that he was supposed to receive from Keith 'One Time' Thurman last year.
"It'll happen this year."
Jarvis, though, is adamant he will shatter Thurman's grand plan, insisting he will expose the 36-year-old "old man" in his first fight since February 2022.
"Brock, you don't understand what it means to really be the provider of your tribe," Thurman said.
"You don't understand what it means to come from the hustle and the grind and to make sure that you are the reason why you're family eats.
"You ain't nothing but an appetiser, boy. I'm gonna clean the plate early, easy work."
